Self-locking nut



Oct. 10, 1933.

B. CATALYINE SELF- LOCKNG NUT Filed Aug. 26. 1929 'Patented Oct. 10, 1933 PATENT 'OFFICE n ,SELF-LOCKINGNT Y Benton Cataline, Flint, Mich., assigner tojGeneral Motorsv Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corpora'A tion of Delaware `Applicatifm August 26, 1929.` seriiNo. 388,375'

.V "7 Claims. (Cl. 151-38) To secure demountable' wheels to the wheel hubs of automotive vehicles, boltsywhich-extend througha ange on the'hub and through portions of the wheel adjacent the inner periphery thereof, andnuts, which yare threaded on-the bolts, are commonly employed. AIt has been found that nuts ofany ,of the. common types cannot be employed; Awith entirev satisfaction 4for the purpose above mentioned because the shocks and vibrations which are imparted to the wheels, during the use of thevehicle, commonly cause them to become loose o n or drop off the bolts.

My invention relates to a nut which is particularly adaptedV for use in securing a demounty drop oi the bolt duringuthe use of the vehicle. The invention resides, in the embodiment which is illustrated in the acompanying drawing, in the provision 4of alunitary nut and washer as.- sembly which is so constructed and yarranged that it cannot become accidentally displaced from the bolt when the parts are properly assembled with the wheel and hub.

For a' better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is made to the following specification in which is described the preferred embodiment of my invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying draw- In the acompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View, mainly in cross-section, showing a demountable wheel and wheel hub assembly in which a nut, in which is embodied my invention, is used in securing the wheel to they hub.

nut shown in Fig. 1. Y

In the drawing, the reference character 5 in- .40 dicates the wheel hub of an automotive vehicle.

On the wheel hub, there is provided an annular iiange 6 through which extend a plurality of openings 7. The reference character 8 indicates a demountable wheel which consists of a rim 9, a felly 10 which is suitably secured to the rim, and an annular disc 11 which is suitably secured to the felly. Adjacent the inner periphery of the disc 11, there are provided a plurality of openings 12, which are equal in number to the number of openings 7 in the ilange 6 of the wheel hub, and which are so arranged that each is adapted to register with one of the openings 7 when the wheel and hub are assem- V bled, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The 551. reference character 13 indicates a clamping able wheel to the wheel hub/ofA an automotivey vehicle and which will not become loose on or' Vmoval of the washer vfrom the barrel.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of ,the

ring through whichiextend a plurality of bevelled openings 14, -which are equal in number to the numbermof openings 12A in the disc 11, and which are so arranged that each is adapted to register with one of ,the openings 12 :when the JQ: parts are assembled, as shown in l'ig. 1.'A v To secure the hub, the wheel, and the clamping ring together; there are provided bol-ts, 15 having threaded `ends which are adapted. to be inserted through the openings 7, k12 and 14, and @d nuts 16 which Vare adapted to be screwed on the threaded ends of the bolts'. vt Each of the Anuts 16 consists of a cap portion 17, a barrel portion 18 and a spring washer 19. Through the barrel portion 18, which is formed integrally with the'Ql cap portionand is made smallerin diameter thanrtheopenings 14 and ,the adjacent part of the cap portion so as to provide at the junction ofthe cap portion andthe barrel portion a shoulder l20, V,and yinto the 3Jcap portion extends la threaded boref21.` The washer 19, which'V isv externally ytapered and which is formed as a turn of a helixwhose ends are spaced apart circumferentiallyand whoser expanded internal Ydiam'- eter is somewhat greater than thev externaldiu 8&0, ameter of the barrel portion, is sleeved over the barrel portion with its smaller end toward the outer end of the barrel portion on which is formed an annular ange 22l which prevents're- 8,5, To secure the hub, the wheel, and the clamping ring together, when they are assembled, ras shown in Fig. 1, the bolts 15 are inserted through the openings 7, 12 and 14, as shown in Fig. 1, and one of the nuts 16 is threaded on each of 9% the bolts. As the nut is screwed onto the bolt, the inclined wall of the washer will come into contact with the inclined wall of the opening 14. Then, as the nut is tightened, the wedging action of the inclined walls of the opening end of the Q5, washer will cause the ends of the washer to approach each other and to come into alignment. Finally, when the nut is properly tightened, as shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the washer will be in alignment, but still slightly spaced apart; the 109 outer end wall of the washer will be firmly seated circumferentially on the shoulder 20; the inner side wall of the washer will be in firm circumferential contact with the barrel, and the inclined wall of the Washer will be firmly seated 1L0L5 circumferentially on they inclined wall of the opening 14. It will now be obvious that, when the nut is properly tightened, the frictional bearing of the washer on the shoulder 20, the barrel portion and the inclined walls of the open- 1li) ing 14, together with the tendency of the washer to expand circumferentially and resume its heli# cal shape Will effectually prevent the nut from turning with respect to the wheel and bolt and will, therefore, prevent loosening and loss of the nut. It Will also be obvious that if, for any reason, the distance between the outer surface'oi" the clamping rim 13 and the ange 6 becomes lessened after the nut is drawn up, the tendency of the Washer to expand Will prevent loosening or loss of the nut.

Although I have shown and described the nut, in which is embodied my invention, as used'to secure a demountable Wheel to a wheel hub, :it is to be understood that this hasbeen Ydone merely by way of example and that the nut may be used for any other analagous purpose without departing from the spirit of'the invention.

I claim 1. A nut, which includes a cap portion, a barrel portion, -a split, helical, tapered -Washer sleevedl over the barrel portion, `and a iiangeon the outer endof the-barrel portion to prevent removal of the `Washer therefrom.

-2. The combination With two elements which are adapted tol be secured together, of an opening extending through-one'ofV the elements, a tapered opening extending through the other of the elements and inA alignment with the opening through the first element, a bolt extending throughthe openings, a nut, Which"consists-of a body portion,V a barrel portion, and a tapered lock Washer Isleeved -over the barrel portion, threaded onf-thebolt Withthe'inclined Walls of the Washer seated on the inclined Walls'v of the second-mentioned opening.

1 3. In a coupled nut and Washer'assembly, a nut having a base and a skirt extending from the base, said nut yhaving a bore extending through said skirt, and a Washer having a' single split convolution surroundingV said skirt, said washer and said skirt having means consisting of complemental faces on the skirt 'and the Washer to hold the Washer on the skirt.

flock-Washer. embracing said coupling portion and `havingthezouter cylindroidal Wall thereof un- 4. In an assembly of the class described, a nut having a base and a skirt extending from said base, said nut having a bore extending through said skirt, and a spring lock Washer having a single split convolution embracing said skirt, aV portion of said skirt remote from said base being externally enlarged to a-diameter greater than the vnormal minimum diameter of rthe washer necessitating expansion of the Washer to remove the same from the skirt.

5. In a structure of the class described, a screw threaded body having a bearing surface and an annular vconcentric Washer coupling portion contiguousto the-bearing surface, and a resilient confined, said Washer .and said coupling portion Ahaving means consisting of complemental faces 1 onitheecoupling portion and the Washer to permanently couple the Washer to said threaded body toalloW the-Washer andi thethreaded body tobe handled as a unit.

- 6. In a structure of the class described,-ascrew threaded body havinga? bearing surface and an `annular concentric Washercoupling `portion contiguous to 1 said-bearing surface, vanda helical axially compressible -lockrwasher embracing said coupling portion and having `the outer f cylindroidalwall thereof unconfmed, said washer and said couplingportion havinglrmeans consisting of complemental faces' on the coupling portion and the washer to permanently secure the Washer tosaid threaded body,the direction of spiral ofsaid'l helical washerbeing opposite to the `direction of spiral of the `screw threads of said 1190 body.

7. -A- n-ut'- whichv includes a bodyportion, a barrel portion, -a Washer sleeved'over vthe barrel portion, and means on the outery end of the-barrel portion to prevent removalrof the Washer therefrom. Y

BENTON CATALINE. 

